Tag: brad cox

Forte Tops Friday Derby Workers List

Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable's Forte (Violence) recorded his first published workout at Churchill Downs Friday morning when he breezed five furlongs in 1:02 outside stablemate Bright Future (Curlin).

Along with Forte's five-furlong move, other Kentucky Derby contenders to record workouts were Angel of Empire (Classic Empire) (six furlongs, 1:13.40); Hit Show (Candy Ride {Arg}) (five furlongs, 1:01); Tapit Trice (Tapit) (four furlongs, :48.60) and Verifying (Justify) (five furlongs, 1:01).

Forte was ridden in his workout by jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. and started about a half-length behind Bright Future. The duo completed an opening quarter-mile fraction of :26.20 then began to pick up their momentum around the far turn through a three-furlong split of :38.60. Forte galloped out six furlongs in 1:14.40 and completed seven furlongs in 1:27.

 

 

 

“It was a normal work from him, which is exactly what you want to see,” Ortiz said. “I let him start going at the five-furlong pole and just get into stride. Going into the turn he stayed with the other horse. When I tipped him out in the stretch he responded well and galloped out nicely. His mind has changed a lot this year from last year. I'm happy with that. He's growing physically but has a great mind.”

Just prior to Forte's move, GI Blue Grass S. winner Tapit Trice recorded his half-mile move with regular exercise rider Amelia Green in the saddle. Tapit Trice completed an opening eighth-mile in :12.80 and galloped out five furlongs in 1:01.

“These workouts become super, super important,” Todd Pletcher said. “They keep you up at night. Tapit Trice started out with a nice, steady breeze. He was on the bridle throughout He seemed to get over the track very comfortably. If you look at Forte's progression numbers wise, he's made that progression forward in each start. Same thing with Tapit Trice. What I'm encouraged by with both of them is how they handled the mile-and-an-eighth and how they handled their final prep. It gives you confidence stretching out in the Derby. Forte is a very straightforward horse to train. He's pushbutton. When Irad asked him to sit just off of his workmate this morning he did just that. When you press 'go', he quickly accelerated to put a head in front of his workmate.”

Trainer Brad Cox's foursome of Angel of Empire, Hit Show, Jace's Road and Verifying all worked at 7:30 a.m. ET. Angel of Empire was paired outside Jace's Road and the duo completed eighth-mile fractions of :12.20, :23.80, :35.60 and 1:00.40. They galloped out seven furlongs in 1:26.40. Jockey Flavien Prat was aboard Albaugh Family Stable's Angel of Empire while Florent Geroux was in the boot on Jace's Road.

In Cox's next set, Hit Show worked inside Verifying, who had jockey Tyler Gaffalione aboard. Hit Show and Verifying began their move at the 4 1/2-furlong marker through splits of :12.60, :24.40 and :48.60.

“Angel of Empire is the type of horse we've been confident all along that can handle the mile-and-a-quarter distance in the Derby,” Cox said. “He excelled going the longer distance in the Arkansas Derby and moves like the type of horse that will like a route of ground. Hit Show just missed in the Wood Memorial. It was a pretty tough beat that day but he showed us that as the distances get longer he can handle the route of ground as well.”

Blazing Sevens (Good Magic), third in the GI Toyota Blue Grass, worked a half-mile on his own in :48.60 over a fast track Friday morning with regular exercise rider Peter Roman aboard.

“He breezed very well and we're very happy with it,” said assistant trainer Josh Flores said. “That's what you want to see from the first breeze back (after a race).”

 

Lord Miles (Curlin) returned to the Gulfstream Park worktab Friday morning, breezing a half-mile in 47.05 seconds, the second-fastest clocking of 33 workouts recorded at the distance.

“It was a good easy work but probably a tad faster than ideal, but he did it well within himself and he was moving well–that's the important thing,” said trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. “He came out of the Wood well. He shipped back and he's held his weight. His weight and his energy seem to be in good order.”

Lord Miles is scheduled to complete his serious preparation for the Derby at Gulfstream.

“He'll come back, all being well, and work next Friday. He'll go five furlongs and we'll ship Saturday or Sunday to Churchill Downs,” Joseph said.

Out west, Practical Move (Practical Joke) returned to the work tab Friday, going a half mile in company in :47. Trainer Tim Yakteen clocked the drill in the same time with a strong gallop-out in “59 seconds and change,” the trainer said.

“They both worked well, very happy,” Yakteen added.

Practical Move is slated to be joined in the Kentucky Derby starting gate by stablemate Reincarnate (Good Magic). Yakteen said Reincarnate is scheduled to work on Saturday.

Both Practical Move and Reincarnate will also have one additional work at Santa Anita next Friday before heading to Churchill Downs the following morning.

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Churchill Downs Workers Continue Derby/Oaks Preps

Spendthrift Farm's duo of GII TwinSpires.com Louisiana Derby winner Kingsbarns (Uncle Mo) and GII Jeff Ruby Steaks runner-up Major Dude (Bolt d'Oro) had their penultimate works prior to Kentucky Derby Day when they each breezed five furlongs in 1:00.80 Thursday morning at Churchill Downs. The duo clipped through opening eighth-mile fractions of :12.60, :24.40 and :36.20. They galloped out together through six furlongs in 1:13.40.

“I think people gave Kingsbarns a discount because of the time of the Louisiana Derby,” Spendthrift Farm President Eric Gustavson said. “I don't think you should be penalized by going to the front and putting everyone else to sleep like he did. We're pretty confident coming into the Derby.”

“Both of them went pretty well,” added trainer Todd Pletcher. “I thought it was a good, steady work with a strong gallop out. Kingsbarns accomplished a lot in a short period of time. I thought his debut was very professional. It's hard to win going one-mile first time out and he did it getting an education being behind horses. For his first start I thought that was impressive. We went the Tampa Bay Downs route to get a two-turn allowance race into him. I thought that worked out well. He made a big step forward then in the Louisiana Derby.”

 

 

 

Pletcher reported Kentucky Derby favorite Forte (Violence) will breeze Friday along with GI Blue Grass Stakes winner Tapit Trice (Tapit).

Not to be outdone, the fillies pointing towards the GI Kentucky Oaks also occupied the work tab Thursday.

At 7:30 a.m., Botanical (Medaglia d'Oro) (five furlongs, 1:00.20), Southlawn (Pioneerof the Nile) (five furlongs, :58.80), The Alys Look (Connect) (five furlongs, 1:00.60) and Wet Paint (Blame) (five furlongs, 1:00.20) all recorded published workouts. About 90 minutes later, Gambling Girl (Dialed In) breezed a half-mile in :49.40.

Wet Paint, with jockey Flavien Prat aboard, began two lengths back of her stablemate Wet Paint, who was ridden by Florent Geroux, and finished even at the wire. Wet Paint completed a six-furlong gallop out in 1:13 while her stablemate finished in 1:13.40. Immediately following their work, Botanical, with jockey Chris Landeros in the irons, worked outside stablemate Flashy Gem. The duo galloped out six furlongs together in 1:13.40.

“I thought it was a really good morning for all of our fillies,” said trainer Brad Cox. “The Alys Look began about two lengths in front of Wet Paint and they finished well together and galloped out well together. I thought it was a very solid move. I let Botanical do a little bit more today than last week just to see how she'd really handle the dirt. She was actually here at Churchill last summer and we breezed her on the turf then and thought she handled it well. She didn't quite have a lot of early speed so that's why we started her going long on turf. Flashy Gem is a very good work horse and the two fillies ran first and second last time out at Turfway.”

 

 

 

Southlawn, trained by Norm Casse, started five lengths back of stablemate Burning Bright. The winner of the GII Fair Grounds Oaks worked through fractions of :24 and :35.20 with rider Rey Gutierrez in the saddle. She galloped out six furlongs in 1:11.60, according to Churchill Downs Clocker John Nichols.

Gambling Girl worked with jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. on board and was outside her Todd Pletcher-trained stablemate Cairo Consort (Cairo Prince). The duo completed early fractions of :12.60 and :24.60 and galloped out five furlongs in 1:02.20.

GIII UAE Oaks winner Mimi Kakushi (City of Light) is on her way from Dubai to the U.S. and is scheduled to arrive at Churchill Downs on Saturday.

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KTFMC April Meeting Hosts Discussion with Leading Trainers

Attendees of the Kentucky Thoroughbred Farm Managers' Club (KTFMC)'s monthly meeting, held Tuesday evening at Limestone Hall, were treated to “A Discussion with North America's Leading Trainers,” featuring a panel that included Brad Cox, Bill Mott, Todd Pletcher and Brendan Walsh.

FanDuel/TVG host and reporter Scott Hazelton moderated the discussion, as the trainers, who all have GI Kentucky Derby and/or GI Kentucky Oaks contenders in their stables, shared stories about their beginnings and how it all led to where they are today.

“I was born in South Dakota and when I was a little kid, I either wanted to be a cowboy or I thought I'd probably work on a ranch. When I was 14, I wound up getting a job with the Asmussens at their place in South Dakota and it just went from there,” said Mott. “I worked with horses throughout the summers and bought my first horse when I was 15 years old and got lucky, winning the South Dakota Futurity with him. It was $3,800 to the winner and I thought I was the richest guy in South Dakota.”

After spending six years working for trainers Bob Irwin and later Jack Van Berg, Mott opened his public stable in 1978.

“I've had some good clients that have raced in some great places and I've had a lot of help along the way,” said Mott. “It's wonderful to be able to work with really good horses and as you're able to graduate into something that allows you to do that, you meet a lot of great people along the way. It's all the way from the grooms and hotwalkers to some of the most interesting people you meet as owners.”

When asked about how all of his experiences have culminated to where he is now, Mott glanced at the trainers sitting beside him and replied, “I learned a lot from everybody I worked for but I still keep watching. I try to learn from these guys that are sitting beside me. I watch what they do and I try to make myself better. With these guys nipping at my heels every day, I've got to work harder than I've ever worked in my life, but they make me better. The better the competition is, the better you are.”

Pletcher recalled a childhood spent going to the track with his father, longtime trainer Jake Pletcher, and shared the story of his first racehorse, a $700 yearling colt by Bold Cape, who was a spur-of-the-moment acquisition after a fellow trainer offered the horse to his father and an 8-year-old Pletcher offered to take him instead.

“[My dad] said 'Go look at the horse. If the horse is correct, you can have him.' I went back and I looked at him, I mean this horse could barely see over the webbing, but he was correct, so I called him and said, 'He's correct, but he's pretty small.' And he said, 'Alright, go ahead and take him,'” said Pletcher.

After training him with his father for two years, the colt named Rambunctiously won on debut at Oaklawn as a 3-year-old in 1981.

“I ran him back two weeks later and he won, but he got claimed, which I thought was the worst thing that could happen. But as it turned out, financially, it was a good thing,” said Pletcher.

As he grew up, he spent time hot walking and grooming for California trainer Henry Moreno, and later spent a summer working with Charlie Whittingham and eventually found his place with D. Wayne Lukas.

“One thing they had in common was that they were great caretakers. They always paid extra attention to the details of how their horses were taken care of,” said Pletcher.

After working six years as an assistant to Lukas, Pletcher decided to go out on his own in the fall of 1995.

“The guy that encouraged me to do it was Mike Ryan. He had a few clients and he said he could send me some horses if I ever decided to. I started off at Hialeah Park with seven horses and was pretty fortunate. We were able to win a few races and expand from there.”

For Walsh, born in County Cork, Ireland, horses were a passion from the very beginning. After jockey school, college, working on various stud farms and spending a few summers working for different trainers, he ended up working at Sheikh Mohammed's Kildangan Stud. That's where his story began with Godolphin, as he traveled with them to Dubai before coming to the states.

“At one point, actually, I was supposed to come work for Bill. I don't know if Bill ever realized that or not, but it never materialized over a visa or something like that, but that's going back a long time,” said Walsh. “But I loved it over here and I thought it was a place where I'd probably have more opportunity than I would have in Europe.”

When asked if there was one horse in particular that stood out early on in his career, Walsh shared the story of Cary Street (Smarty Jones), who was a 4-year-old when Walsh claimed him for $10,000 out of a race in mid-February of 2013. Though it initially appeared that Cary Street hadn't been worth the investment, he eventually improved under Walsh's training and went on to win the GII Las Vegas Marathon S. at Santa Anita Park and the GIII Greenwood Cup S. at Parx in 2014.

“That was our $10,000 horse. I don't think any horse will ever do what he did for me at the time. He just kind of got us going and that was the best $10,000 I ever spent,” said Walsh.

He also reflected on the climb he's made in career, from working at Kildangan and now training stateside for Godolphin.

“I think it was really pivotal because you got to be around good horses. That's always helped me along the way. From when I was working at Kildangan, you were around these super well-bred yearlings, and when we went to Dubai, it was like a 'who's who' of European breeding,” said Walsh. “I always wanted to be around nice horses and it kind of set the bar to try and progress and be better all the time.”

For Cox, who grew up in South Louisville just blocks away from Churchill Downs, horse racing has been a constant for the entirety of his life.

“I liked two or three things: horse racing, Kentucky basketball and baseball. I wasn't very good at baseball. I thought I was going to be a guard for the University of Kentucky, but based on conformation and talent, that was very short-lived,” said Cox. “I fell in love with horse racing at a very early age. My dad would take me to the track and I'd bring that program home and I'd read everything. It's what I wanted to do and I just worked my way up, starting at the bottom.”

Making his way up through the ranks, from rubbing horses to becoming a foreman and later working as an assistant trainer to Dallas Stewart, Cox went out on his own in 2004.

“It was a long, grilling road but it was well worth it. I'm very proud of what our team has accomplished,” said Cox. “You have to get up and do it every day, you have to continue to work. It's demanding, it's a lot of hours, but it's very rewarding.”

KTFMC President Gerry Duffy with Boyd Browning | Sara Gordon

Hazelton asked the trainers how the sport has evolved in their eyes and if there were any changes they'd like to see in the industry going forward, which led to a discussion about uniformity and the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA).

“I think we're going down the right track with a lot of things, in terms of uniform medication rules and anti-doping, so I think those are all positive things. To have everybody on pretty much the same playing field would be great,” said Cox.

“I think the biggest changes we're seeing now are with HISA, the federal intervention. I think the biggest thing I thought it would bring to the table would be uniformity. I was all for uniform medication rules, uniform penalties, so you could go state to state. You don't want to stub your toe and make an honest mistake just because you're not aware of the rules,” said Mott. “I think right now with HISA, it's caused more confusion than uniformity, but hopefully, once things get ironed out maybe we will come to that point where we do have uniform rules from New York to California.”

“One of my biggest issues right now is just the uncertainty [of] where we stand. We're 18 days out from the Kentucky Derby and we don't know if the HISA rules are going to be in effect May 1 or if it's going to be the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission,” said Pletcher. “We saw the implementation of HISA for three or four racing days, then back to each state's rules. I think everybody wants to play by the rules, but even leading up to when HISA went into effect, what seemed to be proper withdrawal times for very standard medications like bute literally changed from 48 hours, from 72 hours to 96 hours.

“Initially it was supposed to have been put together to make everything unified, but now it seems like there's some stuff that is not very agreeable at all. They've gotten rid of a lot of therapeutic stuff, restricted us on a lot of things that are really just for the benefit of the horses. They've kind of restricted us from being horsemen. We're all trying to be horsemen here and do what's beneficial for the horses and it seems like they're wanting to get in our way of that.”

The trainers switched gears, wrapping up the panel with a discussion of their prospects set for the first weekend in May at Churchill Downs, along with new 2-year-olds that have been shipping in to begin their seasons.

“We're looking forward to the Oaks with Pretty Mischievous [Into Mischief], but we've got to try to beat these guys as well,” said Walsh. “We've got a nice team of turf fillies this year, some yet to start this year, but it seems like we have a good team put together.”

Cox spoke about his three colts that are Derby bound, including Hit Show (Candy Ride {Arg}), Verifying (Justify) and Angel of Empire (Classic Empire), along with potential starter Jace's Road (Quality Road), who currently sits in the 21st spot and could make it into the starting gate if any of the top 20 scratch.

“We obviously have a few more works before race day but I'm very happy with all three. We've got a group of fillies as well, The Alys Look [Connect] and Botanical [Medaglia d'Oro]. It's going to be a big week and hopefully a big weekend,” said Cox.

Mott, who trains Derby contender Rocket Can (Into Mischief) admitted he didn't have any surprises yet to be unveiled in his barn, but looking at the stable overall, he was proud of what this group has accomplished so far this year.

“Most of them have run and the good ones have shown up and we've done really well with them. We're hopefully getting a few of those back to the races, including a couple in Derby week,” said Mott. “We're like everybody else, we're already looking at the 2-year-olds. The future is always the excitement in this business.”

Pletcher delved into the remarkable evolution of champion Forte (Violence), who leads his group of Derby contenders.

“It was interesting that he was one of the first 2-year-olds we got in last year, he came in March 25, and he's just a really intelligent colt. He caught onto everything really well, really quickly and he's done everything right,” said Pletcher. “It's great to come here with a group that likes to win. We all know how hard this race is to win.”

The evening was also highlighted by an awards presentation, where Dr. Emma Adam, Shannon Arvin and Boyd Browning were awarded as honorary members, and James Brady became just the fifth person to be honored as a KTFMC Life Member.

The post KTFMC April Meeting Hosts Discussion with Leading Trainers appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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The It Girl: Monomoy Girl Shines at Spendthrift Alongside First Foal

Champion Monomoy Girl displayed many admirable traits during her four years on the racetrack, but those closest to her would be quick to say that she has never exactly been known for her easygoing nature. Independent, tenacious and self-assured would be much better adjectives to describe the GI Kentucky Oaks victress and two-time GI Breeders' Cup Distaff heroine.

“She's very sassy, that's for sure,” said Florent Geroux, who teamed up with the chestnut daughter of Tapizar for 16 of her 17 lifetime starts. “She's not really a 'people horse' who likes to hang out with people. She likes to be on her own. If you bring her some treats, she might come see you for a bit. Although if you come empty handed, it's not very good to visit her.”

Two years ago, Monomoy Girl retired to Spendthrift Farm. The operation's General Manager Ned Toffey can attest that the seven-time Grade I winner has maintained that same sure-of-herself personality.

“Ever since she came to Spendthrift, and I think during her training days as well, she has been a pretty tough mare,” he said. “She's definitely not so much of a pet as she is sort of a tough, athletic race mare. She's more settled into a routine now, but she still has her preferences. There are things she likes and things she doesn't like and you still see that fire pop up in her from time to time.”

Despite her seemingly tough nature, Monomoy Girl has revealed a softer side over the past two months. Early on the morning of Feb. 17, her first foal arrived at Spendthrift. While there is always concern for how any mare will take to a second career as a broodmare, in this case all worries were eased as soon as her Into Mischief colt took his first steps.

“She has done everything right,” said Toffey. “She's a very settled mare when she goes outside and she takes good care of her foal. Sometimes you'll run into things with race mares where you may even have to go so far as to have to put the foal on a nurse mare. That has been far from the case with Monomoy Girl.”

As for the foal, Toffey said they couldn't be happier with the new arrival.

“He's a medium-sized foal, which is really what we like to see. He's very well-made, very put together. He's got great bone and is very balanced and athletic .”

Monomoy Girl's first foal by Into Mischief | Sara Gordon

The team at Spendthrift was so enamored with this Into Mischief colt that Monomoy Girl was bred back to the farm's same supersire and she recently checked in foal.

Just as spring brings new foals to the Bluegrass each year, many of the nation's best jockeys are welcomed to Lexington every spring for the Keeneland meet. On a light day of racing, Florent Geroux stopped in to visit an old friend at Spendthrift and meet her first foal. The seasoned jockey has sat aboard countless top-class horses, but it's not every day that he gets near one of their offspring.

Geroux was blown away by how well the champion seems to have taken to retirement.

“She looks great and she has a beautiful colt,” he said after peppermints had been distributed and the mare and foal were turned out for the morning. “I think everything is going very well for her. It makes me happy to see her here and she looks amazing. Her coat is beautiful and she looks super healthy, all dappled out.”

There is no question that Geroux's top earner, Gun Runner, has gone on to do great things after the racetrack. Now he is hoping that his second-highest earning performer can share similar success.

The sky has always seemed to be the limit for Monomoy Girl, who has a knack for setting the bar throughout every step of her career.

Purchased as a yearling by Liz Crow for only $100,000 and originally campaigned by Michael Dubb and Sol Kumin's Monomoy Stables, the Brad Cox-trained filly was a stakes winner at two and her Eclipse Award-worthy sophomore season was highlighted by six graded stakes wins from seven starts, including the Kentucky Oaks and the Breeders' Cup Distaff.

While she missed her 4-year-old season due to colic and a hamstring injury, the chestnut came back the following year and claimed another Breeders' Cup Distaff-Eclipse Award double. At the end of her 5-year-old campaign, she was sent through the ring at Fasig-Tipton's Night of the Stars Sale, where she brought $9.5 million from Spendthrift Farm. MyRacehorse joined in on the partnership along with one of her original owners Sol Kumin under his Madaket Stables banner. She was a graded stakes winner again at six in the GIII Bayakoa S. before entering retirement.

Flo knows to come bearing peppermints when visiting Monomoy Girl | Sara Gordon

Reflecting on Monomoy Girl's career, Geroux said that her Kentucky Oaks victory over fellow champions Wonder Gadot and Midnight Bisou, as well as her victorious return to the Breeders' Cup in 2020, are two of his fondest memories with the talented filly.

Monomoy Girl's intelligence, he added, is another trait he will never forget from their many rides together.

“She's extremely smart,” he said. “Probably one of the smartest horses I've been around.”

While it remains to be seen if this first foal has inherited his dam's athletic abilities, there is already no question of his paternal heritage. A flashy light bay with varying degrees of white on all four legs, the colt has a prominent blaze that is unquestionably Into Mischief.

At just two months old, the youngster has already grown to love the spotlight.

“He could not be a more personable foal,” Toffey explained. “He loves people. You try to get a picture of him and he'll come over to the fence. Everything looks like a selfie with him because he just comes up and wants to get in your face.”

Toffey said that while plans can always change, their goal is to keep the foal under his existing ownership.

“I think he's one that we're likely to keep right here in house,” he explained. “There is a lot of time between now and next year when he would potentially sell as a yearling, but there is so much stallion potential there. It's a wonderful pedigree and he looks like an athlete. If he has ability that comes anywhere close to his looks and pedigree, he'd be a horse that we could hope to one day have in our stallion barn. That's really one of our big goals here at Spendthrift. We're breeding for the stud barn and the broodmare band. Obviously first comes athleticism, but if they can do the job on the track, our goal is to get them back here and stand them at stud.”

No matter where the youngster ends up some day, 'Flo' said that he would like to put his name in the hat to be the colt's future jockey.

“I would have to talk to the owners and maybe the future trainer,” he said with a smile. “Hopefully they can arrange that for me. It would be special.”

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